In Sunday School, a boy makes a disparaging remark about another boy. A girl reveals private information in the classroom. Another child does or says something embarrassing. While each of these situations may be challenging and uncomfortable to us, they can be wonderful teaching opportunities. As parents and teachers, most of us have encountered one of these or similar situations. How should we respond? Here are some suggestions.
Turn the attention away from the child involved and toward the heart of the issue.
Example: if a disparaging remark was made, talk about how we are called to love and encourage each other in the Body of Christ, a family brought together by the work of Christ on the cross, and His victorious resurrection. Luke 6:31 calls us to treat others in the same way in which we want to be treated. Remind the children how we are each created differently with differing gifts and abilities, but all part of one Body and all created to love and serve one another (Psalm 139:14; I Corinthians 12:18-22). Perhaps you could help the children come up with things to think before speaking: Is this encouraging or discouraging to the hearer? Would I want
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